News Releases & Statements

-For Immediate Release-
Strong majority of parliamentarians confront systemic racism and discrimination
(Ottawa - March 23, 2017) The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), a prominent civil liberties and advocacy organization, welcomes the passage of a parliamentary motion in the House of Commons today condemning Islamophobia and all forms of systemic racism and discrimination.
A strong majority of Members of Parliament (MPs) -- by a margin of 201 - 91 -- voted in favour of Motion 103 which further recommends that parliament study these troubling phenomena in ...

- For Immediate Release -
(Ottawa – March 20, 2017) The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) is pleased to confirm settlement of its libel lawsuit against Jason MacDonald (former director of communications for the Right Honourable Stephen Harper) and Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada on terms acceptable to the parties.
In announcing the settlement, Mr. MacDonald and the NCCM have issued the following joint statement:
“On January 16, 2014, Jason MacDonald made a media statement as the Director of Communications for the Right Honourable Stephen ...

-For Immediate Release-
(Ottawa – March 6, 2017) The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), a prominent civil liberties & advocacy organization, says that a criminal trial centering on the actions of a police officer in the death of Abdirahman Abdi should provide both answers and accountability.
Last summer, local police were responding to complaints involving Mr. Abdi at a coffee shop in Ottawa’s downtown. Mr. Abdi, a 37-year-old resident who suffered from mental illness, was chased to his apartment building where he was allegedly pepper sprayed and ...

Other Muslim and Jewish institutions targeted in recent days
(Ottawa - March 1, 2017) The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), a prominent civil liberties & advocacy organization, denounces threats made against Concordia's university population, as well as the recent targeting of other religious institutions.
Concordia University receives threats
The threats targeting Concordia University were made in a letter that was copied and sent to the university as well as to media outlets yesterday. The letter is from a group calling itself the Council of Conserv...

– For Immediate Release –
(Ottawa – February 27, 2017) The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), a prominent civil liberties & advocacy organization, strongly and unequivocally condemns a series of hateful incidents against Jewish communities that have come to light in recent days.
Recently, videos surfaced of appalling and reprehensible comments made by two individuals leading prayers at a mosque in Toronto in 2016 and in Montreal in 2014. The comments included supplications that contained incendiary speech towards the Jewish community. Both mosque ...

-For Immediate Release-
(Ottawa - February 18, 2017) The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), a prominent civil liberties & advocacy organization, is deeply concerned by a hateful gathering held yesterday outside a downtown Toronto mosque during Friday prayers.
A dozen participants held up signs that said "Muslims are terrorists" and "Ban Islam" while mosque congregants gathered for weekly congregational worship. At least one participant mentioned the proposed anti-Islamophobia parliamentary motion.
"This was a clear attempt to intimidate the Muslim ...

-For Immediate Release-
Says federal government should reconsider Bill C-23
(Ottawa - February 13, 2017) The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), a prominent civil liberties & advocacy organization, is calling on the federal government to stand up for the rights of Canadian citizens to travel freely and without discrimination to the United States.
In recent days, there have been five reported cases of Canadians being turned away from the border after extensive questioning and intrusive treatment.
"We recognize that the United States as a sovereign ...

-For Immediate Release-
'Open Letter' released to three levels of government; urges support for Motion 103
(Ottawa - February 8, 2017) A coalition of national and Quebec-based Muslim organizations led by the the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) released an open letter today at a Parliament Hill news conference urging all three levels of government to take concrete action to counter Islamophobia and all forms of systemic racism and discrimination following the terror attack on the Centre culturel Islamique de Québec.
Read Open Letter here.
Lisez Lettre ...

-For Immediate Release-
(Quebec City - January 30, 2017) The National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM), a prominent Muslim civil liberties & advocacy organization, and the human rights group AMAL-Québec are expressing outrage after a terrorist attack at a Quebec City mosque that left at least six worshippers dead and injured 8 others.
Two individuals were reportedly in custody following the shootings which unfolded on Sunday during evening prayers at the Centre Culturel Islamique de Quebec.
"We are horrified by this despicable act of violence. Our prayers ...

-For Immediate Release-
Community coalition welcomes review of York Region District School Board
(Toronto – January 26, 2017) A coalition of community representatives joins the Vaughan African Canadian Association (VACA) and the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) in welcoming today’s announcement that Ontario’s Education Minister has called a review of the York District School Board (YRDSB).
In a statement issued at noon, Minister Mitzie Hunter, said, “There have been significant and growing concerns from parents and community members regarding ...